Nail trends are taking a walk on the wild side in 2026, but if you still like a little order in your nail art, polka dot nails are the perfect middle ground. They feel more fun and elevated than a solid shade, but they’re dainty enough to stay subtle if needed. Dotted nails also strike the balance between timeless and trendy: Retro polka dots have been one of the biggest fashion trends of the last year (just ask Ariana Grande, Kylie Jenner, and more of our faves).
The style trend quickly made its way into our manis, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, and Hailey Bieber are just a few of the many stars who’ve been spotted in polka-dot nails recently. A quick scroll through dotted inspo shots will show you just how many ways there are to wear them, whether it’s on short nails or long almond nails, with black-and-white dots or multicolored, or on all your nails or just a couple accent nails.
Ahead, everything you need to know about the polka-dot nail trend, including how to create the look at home and plenty of reference shots to show your nail artist. Plus, we got expert insight straight from Evelyn Lim, chief educator at MiniLuxe’s Paintbox studio in New York City, to learn more tips and tricks.
What are polka-dot nails?
Polka-dot nails are, unsurprisingly, exactly what they sound like. The manicure features any color nail base (or even a French manicure base) with polka dots on top. The beauty is in the versatility: They can be lined up or randomized, multicolor or single color, one size or varying sizes, and the list goes on. You can style them however you’d like, but Lim particularly loves a few: Her favorite colorways include “black and white, cherry red and white, coral and hot pink, or navy and honeydew,” she shares.
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